Luckily getting tested no longer requires an uncomfortable visit to the doctor. Gone are the days of feeling ashamed or opting for Planned Parenthood over your family physician.

While we could go on about how STI testing shouldn’t be a thing you feel uncomfortable doing, we’ll accept the status quo and instead recommend ways to get tested discreetly, without all the fuss.

LetsGetChecked, myLAB Box and Everlywell are three awesome companies that offer powerful at-home STD testing kits that help you know as much as you need (or want) to know about your sexual health. Let’s stack the three up against each other to see which at-home test should be added to your cart ASAP.

How do at-home STD tests like LetsGetChecked, myLAB Box, and Everlywell work?

No, this isn’t an article about the next Theranos. Legitimate at-home laboratory tests are all over the place now, empowering you get tested for anything from fertility to allergies. But what about for sexually transmitted diseases / infections?

Luckily, with just a finger prick, urine sample, or genital swab, you’ll know your results in no time. LetsGetChecked, myLAB Box, and Everlywell all follow a fairly similar process to deliver your box and results quickly.

1. Order your test(s) online.

2. Receive test(s) in the mail.

Your test will come in discreet packaging, so ship it to wherever is most convenient for you; the office, home, your mom’s house — all without shame.

3. Collect your sample.

It should only take a few minutes! All three companies require you to collect your sample in the morning and return it in the same day.

4. Wait for your results.

You’ll get results within just a few days and can access them online any time.

5. Talk to someone.

If you want to discuss your results, you can easily chat with a doctor or nurse through their consultation services.

Who should use an at-home sexually transmitted disease (STD) test, such as LetsGetChecked, myLAB Box, or Everlywell?

Starting a new relationship? Dabbling in dating apps? Married for 20 years?

It doesn’t matter who you are or what your current relationship status is. If you’re sexually active, you should be getting tested regularly. Doctors recommend that the sexually active get tested every 3-12 months, depending on the number of partners you’re involved with. Both you and your partner should ALWAYS get tested when you first start to hook up.

But remember, you should wait at least 4 weeks from the time of potential exposure to disease before taking a test. Why not do the test at home, say, in the comfort and privacy of your own bathroom? It’s easy, more affordable, and you’ll be able to keep track of your results with whatever service you choose, often more easily than your doctor’s office.

LetsGetChecked, myLAB Box, and Everlywell make STD testing extremely accessible to just about everyone, so there’s no more excuses for not getting tested regularly.

Let’s compare LetsGetChecked vs myLAB Box vs Everlywell to see which at-home STI testing kit makes the most sense for you, your budget, and maybe even your partner, too. We’ve aggregated all the important information below to help you choose the right test:

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Now that you have a lay of the land, let’s dive a bitter deeper into each solution and provide a bit more context.

LetsGetChecked STD Screening Kit

LetsGetChecked has become a go-to resource for at-home medical testing, giving patients more control over how and when they get tested for anything from an iron deficiency to fertility to sexually transmitted diseases.

An Irish-born startup, LGC was founded in 2014 to bridge the gap between current healthcare and the way consumers were behaving in the world of Uber and Seamless. In the end, their mission is to promote a “more consolidated and cohesive healthcare engagement,” according to founder Peter Foley.

When it comes to testing for STDs, LetsGetChecked offers four different tests, ranging from testing two to ten different infections. So depending on what you want to screen for, you can select the testing bundle that makes the most sense.

LetsGetChecked takes any of the guesswork out of choosing individual tests by bundling screens for many of the most common STDs. That said, if you only need to test for just one or two different infections, you can also choose an individual Herpes test ($119) or the Hepatitis B & C test ($79). Either way, make sure to use the code FINVSFIN20for 20% off your order.

Depending on your test, you may have to do a finger prick as well as a urine sample. Truth be told, both are fairly painless, but they also provide clear instructions and even videos to take away any jitters, especially about collecting your own blood.

Side note / personal anecdote: I HATE needles and shots of all kinds, but had no trouble with the finger prick.

Once your results are in, LetsGetChecked’s physicians and nurses are available to review your results with you and recommend treatment options. Overall, LetsGetChecked provides a simple, flexible, and comprehensive approach to at-home STD testing. Their approach is an incredibly well-thought out way to stay informed when it comes to your sexual health.

myLAB Box STD Screening Kit

myLAB Box tests let you screen for sexually transmitted diseases on your own terms. With over ⅓ of Americans living with an STI today, myLAB Box wants to empower patients to know sooner and get quality treatment faster. Founded by Californian entrepreneurs, myLAB Box’s goal is to turn the tide on sexually transmitted infections and reverse the negative stigma surrounding disease.

myLAB Box sells 18 different kits that allow you to test anywhere from one to 14 different infections. Similar to LetsGetChecked, they offer bundles so that you can test multiple infections at once, but also offer an ‘a la carte menu’ to select tests individually. Their three primary STI test bundles are:

There are more similarities to LetsGetChecked: after purchasing online, you’ll get a sample collection kit delivered discreetly. When you send in your test sample in the envelope provided, you’ll receive lab-certified results in a matter of days. Once you get your results, you’ll also be able to chat with a member of their team to address lingering questions and, if necessary, discuss potential treatment options.

myLAB Box really wants to make at-home STD testing fun – dare we even say sexy? It’s a seamless experience ordering a test, sending in samples, and getting your results. Like LetsGetChecked, they offer more than just sexual health tests, including:

Testosterone test

Hemoglobin A1c for Diabetes

Fertility tests

Gluten sensitivity

Metal toxicity

Influenza screening

And more!

Everlywell STD Screening Kit

Austin, Texas-based company Everlywell is a health and wellness company that connects consumers to lab partners to make laboratory tests even more accessible. If the name sounds familiar, you may recognize it from ABC’s Shark Tank. Everlywell, to a similar extent as LetsGetCecked, provides a large buffet of options when it comes to at-home tests. And yep, they even cover at-home STD testing, so go ahead and add that to the basket, maybe even with your fertility tests. Everlywell offers seven different tests to choose from that can test anywhere from one to seven different infections. Everlywell splits their STD testing by male and female, making it easier than ever to choose your test and get started, but the only difference is how the sample is collected. You can also choose from their one-off tests, such as the Chlamydia and Gonorrhea test.

Once your discreet package is delivered, all you have to do is register your test with your account online (so they know your sample is, well, yours) and gather your sample. Once the lab receives your sample and runs the test, an independent board-certified physician will review your results before they even get to your hands.

If positive results are detected, you’ll be able to connect with a physician within the Everlywell network and, based on travel and clinical symptoms, you may be able to receive treatment. Everlywell’s process is all-encompassing, making it simple to get what you need fast.

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LetsGetChecked STD test reviews

As the most recognized name in the at-home testing, LetsGetChecked pleases customers with their impeccable follow-through — i.e. supporting patients post-testing and overall simplicity compared to having to visit a doctor’s office.

myLAB Box STD test reviews

myLAB Box still seems to be finding its footing when it comes to pleasing customers. Some patients have had issues with the delivery and payment of their orders, while others had to wait quite some time to get results. Every startup experiences growing pains, and myLAB Box will likely overcome these in time, but worth noting:

Everlywell STD Test Reviews

Both male and female customers seem happy with the process of Everlywell’s at-home STD testing kit. While some have issues with collecting the sample, overall the feedback on their experience and support is mostly positive.

The Verdict: Which at-home STD testing kit is best for you — myLAB Box, Everlywell, or LetsGetChecked?

Usually, when a big brown box arrives on your doorstep, it’s an eagerly awaited package of something you probably didn’t need from Amazon. But when it comes to at-home STD testing, that brown box can actually unlock knowledge about something vitally important: your sexual health.

Hyperbole aside, your sexual health really is something to be taken seriously. If you are ready to take your STD screening seriously, you want to choose a convenient testing kit that you can trust.

While we appreciate myLAB Box’s goal of destigmatizing STDs, their overall user experience is (so far) the weakest of the three competitors, lacking the simplicity and privacy you want when it comes to healthcare. They also offer a much smaller variety of tests outside of STI screens, so personally we’d opt for Everlywell and LetsGetChecked who have more experience in the world of at-home lab testing more broadly.

In our view, Everlywell and LetsGetChecked are neck in neck. Both boast deep experience in at-home testing, offering a wide variety of options when it comes to screening for many of the most common conditions.

All in all, LetsGetChecked provides the most comprehensive option of at-home STD testing, making it our top choice, but only by a small margin. They make it easy to choose your test with their bundled offerings, plus provide straightforward instructions on collecting your sample and the opportunity for an in-depth follow up consultation with medical professionals once you’ve received your results. Best of all, we’ve partnered with them to offer you an exclusive 20% discount — just apply the code FINVSFIN20 at check-out.

So, are you ready to increase your sexual health knowledge? Great, let’s get checked! If you are based in the US and prefer to “buy local,” give Everlywell a shot. It’s always a good call to assess your sexual health, and either company will deliver an exceptional at-home STD testing experience.

Have you used an at-home testing kit in the past? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below, whether it was with one of the three brands we covered or another one altogether.

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Zoë Bjornson

Zoë is a writer, product nerd, and cheese lover. She enjoys bringing efficiency to any process and creating unique user experiences. She is California raised, New Orleans educated, and can't sit still in any place for more than a few years.